Thursday, August 12, 2010
TeachUp! Little Billy's Pythagorean Adventure
Learning How to apply the software we've been learning. . .This one is Microsoft's Photo Story
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Reflections on the Future of Technology
In the next 50 years, one can anticipate the major changes in technology will revolve around networking. If this is true, than we can also anticipate this having major changes in our personal lives, in education, and in business.
For starters I think it is safe to assume that increasing internet speeds, and businesses revolving around networking and the internet will mean that we will begin to see the barriers between our private lives, education and business shrink and probably disappear.
I have spoken to one of the chairs of the computer science department at a university who told me that one of the things that they are working on and looking forward to in the future is doing away with personal computers so that all data will be centralized on servers, and all one will need is a terminal in order to access that information. That speaks some major changes that we should expect to see in terms of how we define privacy, and property rights.
As far as education however, already young people have to learn so much information and new technology so fast, and at much younger ages. Which means that the gap between those who grow up with technology and those who have to learn technology will be ever increasing.
One of the statistics we looked at today said that the turnover on antiquated technical knowledge is now is getting close to being less than a year. I imagine that one of the consequences of that will mean that younger people will be ever brighter, and every more adaptable, and it will be that much more important that we are raising and training them to live with that mode of thinking.
So while we may still not have flying cars in 50 years, what is definitely likely is that there may not even be a need for it as national and continental barriers will break against the uniting power of online networking. The world will get ever smaller, and evermore competitive. And so it is vitally important that we begin preparing for that now.
For starters I think it is safe to assume that increasing internet speeds, and businesses revolving around networking and the internet will mean that we will begin to see the barriers between our private lives, education and business shrink and probably disappear.
I have spoken to one of the chairs of the computer science department at a university who told me that one of the things that they are working on and looking forward to in the future is doing away with personal computers so that all data will be centralized on servers, and all one will need is a terminal in order to access that information. That speaks some major changes that we should expect to see in terms of how we define privacy, and property rights.
As far as education however, already young people have to learn so much information and new technology so fast, and at much younger ages. Which means that the gap between those who grow up with technology and those who have to learn technology will be ever increasing.
One of the statistics we looked at today said that the turnover on antiquated technical knowledge is now is getting close to being less than a year. I imagine that one of the consequences of that will mean that younger people will be ever brighter, and every more adaptable, and it will be that much more important that we are raising and training them to live with that mode of thinking.
So while we may still not have flying cars in 50 years, what is definitely likely is that there may not even be a need for it as national and continental barriers will break against the uniting power of online networking. The world will get ever smaller, and evermore competitive. And so it is vitally important that we begin preparing for that now.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Day 2 TeachUp! Reflection
So we began today by taking some notes, and discussing some hints and tips and rules for how to being working with the teachers in the schools. This was followed by splitting into groups and creating power point presentations to support the discussion.
This was all very well, and went a long way to helping me at least feel more confident and secure about the approaches that I could in order to begin forming a working relationship with the teachers at whatever school I expect to find myself at.
The second half of the day, however, presented an interesting challenge. My group was assigned to create a movie on professionalism using the windows movie maker program in only 2 hours.
This proved to be a feat. not only in the sense that anyone who has ever made a movie from scratch knows that it requires at least 2 hours of planning. But despite a litany of technical errors such as internet speed issues, and not being able to download any videos, and a torrent of crashing software. I believe we successfully pulled it off.
Once again, much acknowledgments must be made to J.J. Sylvia without whose instruction it would not have been possible (see the complete video below).
Also many props to Group A who despite all the errors, and all the frustration, and stress was able to hold it together, and work together to create a completed product!
Congratulations!
Here is your image for the day. . .you've earned it.
This was all very well, and went a long way to helping me at least feel more confident and secure about the approaches that I could in order to begin forming a working relationship with the teachers at whatever school I expect to find myself at.
The second half of the day, however, presented an interesting challenge. My group was assigned to create a movie on professionalism using the windows movie maker program in only 2 hours.
This proved to be a feat. not only in the sense that anyone who has ever made a movie from scratch knows that it requires at least 2 hours of planning. But despite a litany of technical errors such as internet speed issues, and not being able to download any videos, and a torrent of crashing software. I believe we successfully pulled it off.
Once again, much acknowledgments must be made to J.J. Sylvia without whose instruction it would not have been possible (see the complete video below).
Also many props to Group A who despite all the errors, and all the frustration, and stress was able to hold it together, and work together to create a completed product!
Congratulations!
Here is your image for the day. . .you've earned it.
Group A Video on Professionalism
Inspired by J.J. Sylvia
Ashely, Ara, Tieryaa, and Josue made this video under the guidance of Mr. Sylvia.
Ashely, Ara, Tieryaa, and Josue made this video under the guidance of Mr. Sylvia.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Interview with Ara
Above is the podcast of the interview I did with Ara as part of the first day of TeachUp! training. Enjoy. . .
ps. I'd give you another picture, but I think audio files count as media so that'll have to do.
Reflections on First Day
I think today's training gave me a slightly better grasp of what it is we are expected to accomplish through this program.
Even though I was a bit late because of having to go take a drug test, and then having to find the location to which the training had moved while I was driving back from the drug test, I was able to catch and learn how to create and publish blogs, use gmail and its company of apps and documents, as well as doing a little bit of pod casting.
So despite the little adventure that lead into the day, I have definitely gained a few new sets of skills. As well as reflections on how to use those skills in the classroom.
But I still do have a few questions, especially concerning which school, and which grade level we will all be placed at, what the time sheets will look like, and what's involved with them, what our relationship to our respective schools and teachers will look and work out like. And of course following all of that are the questions about how we will are divide our weekly hours. The thing I am most curious about are the 10 hours of community development.
All these questions of course I am sure will be addressed along the length of this training, or if not then, definitely during the daily working out of job . . . assuming all goes well with this week's assessment period.
And finally to your left, another picture for your enjoyment.
Even though I was a bit late because of having to go take a drug test, and then having to find the location to which the training had moved while I was driving back from the drug test, I was able to catch and learn how to create and publish blogs, use gmail and its company of apps and documents, as well as doing a little bit of pod casting.
So despite the little adventure that lead into the day, I have definitely gained a few new sets of skills. As well as reflections on how to use those skills in the classroom.
But I still do have a few questions, especially concerning which school, and which grade level we will all be placed at, what the time sheets will look like, and what's involved with them, what our relationship to our respective schools and teachers will look and work out like. And of course following all of that are the questions about how we will are divide our weekly hours. The thing I am most curious about are the 10 hours of community development.
All these questions of course I am sure will be addressed along the length of this training, or if not then, definitely during the daily working out of job . . . assuming all goes well with this week's assessment period.
And finally to your left, another picture for your enjoyment.
2nd Post
So I am sitting here with Angel and Kate, and we're about to discuss a few questions. Get ready for these answers!
Are we excited?
We have a consensus on excitement. However, Angel is wonder/excited about which grade she will be getting. And even though Kate and i are not saying anything, I think we are curious about that too.
Are we nervous?
yes and no more so curious of what we are going to be doing.
Basically we have lots of questions about what we will be doing, and what's expected.
We'll get back to you as more comes up. Until then, here's a picture!!!
Are we excited?
We have a consensus on excitement. However, Angel is wonder/excited about which grade she will be getting. And even though Kate and i are not saying anything, I think we are curious about that too.
Are we nervous?
yes and no more so curious of what we are going to be doing.
Basically we have lots of questions about what we will be doing, and what's expected.
We'll get back to you as more comes up. Until then, here's a picture!!!
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